 Dog-fighting
Columbus, OH (US)Incident Date: Friday, Apr 1, 2005
County: Franklin
Local Map: available
Disposition: Not Charged
Abuser names unreleased
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Authorities say they have shut down a dog fighting operation on the west side of Columbus. Pit bulls were reportedly being trained to maul each other for entertainment, investigators say. Now, they are confident that they have put a dog-fighting factory out of business.
The home were authorities believe the fighting was taking place is a non-descript duplex nestled in a working-class west side neighborhood. But what investigators say happened in one of the units amounts to nothing less than torture.
Several pit bulls, detectives say, were forced into the hellish world of dog fighting and mauled in the process.
�At least two dogs had been in a pretty horrendous fight,� Chief Deputy Steve Martin said, referring to video of one match.
On April 1, deputies served a search warrant at the house in question. In addition to saying they found signs of brutal canine bouts, Chief Deputy Martin says drug paraphernalia along with pistols, shotguns, machine guns and ammunition inside.
In the backyard, they say they uncovered even more signs of suffering. There were thick ropes and heavy chains tied tightly to trees. Such restraints are commonly used by ringleaders to strengthen their animals, investigators say. The methods are designed to make pit bulls more efficient fighting machines.
"It's still difficult for me to understand why anybody would make these animals suffer like this,� Martin said.
Detectives removed the dogs from the premises, taking them to the county shelter for treatment, incurring a huge expense for taxpayers.
"That is physical evidence, except this physical evidence eats, sleeps and requires medical attention," Martin said of one reason the dogs are being kept by the county
An estimated $85,000 is spent each year locally to kennel pit bulls used in suspected dog fighting cases.
Following the raid, no charges had been filed as of April 7. The sheriff�s office was still conducting its investigation. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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